Three former leaders of Exodus International, an "ex-gay" ministry that claims it can "cure" gays, including co-founder, Michael Bussee, have issued a public apology to those it claimed to have helped. The statement issued said, "Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families." The statement continued, "Although we acted in good faith, we have since witnessed the isolation, shame, fear and loss of faith that this message creates." Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals have long stated that so-called "conversion" therapies offered little or no benefit, and could even be harmful to those subjected to them. The former leaders of Exodus International now agree.In other gay news, a new poll shows that the majority of younger Americans favor gay marriage. Seems the kids, ages 17-29, are also interested in immigration reform and universal healthcare for Americans. The poll was conducted nationwide between June 15 and June 23, and was a joint undertaking from The New York Times, CBS News, and MTV. In all, 659 respondents were polled, between the ages of 17 - 29. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.
I attended the gay pride parade in NYC last weekend, and it was a tremendous feeling seeing the thousands of people line the streets of 5th Avenue to view the parade. The parade began on 52nd Street, in the heart of the Big Apple, not relegating the gays to the backstreets for the march. I felt a tingle as public officials, particularly Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn, as well as the NYC gay policemen and firemen, marched proudly through the streets.
I feel the tide turning. The Conservatives, lead by George W., have had their say. They have basically f**ked things up, and the non-issues they constantly tout, such as the evil gays and the need for family values which they themselves do not emulate, are no longer "bought" as much by the public. As the poll mentioned above indicates, most do not care who marries whom, but realize there are many more important real issues the US faces!
